Indicator for multiple-cylinder explosive-engines.



WQEBEIII: INDICATOR FOR MULTIPLE CYLINDER EXPLOSIVE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEET- I 3. I915.

Pmfnenw Feb. 26, 1918.

INDTCATQR FOR MULTIPLE-CYLINDER EXPLOSIVE-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented nee. ac, rain Application filed September 13, 1915. Serial No. 50,515.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, VVILLIAM Emma, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ellicottville, in the county of Cattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Multiple-Cylinder Explosive-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

In the operation of internal combustion engines of the multiple cylinder type misfiring is frequently experienced thereby causing a loss of power, unsteady motion and excessive consumption of fuel and overheating. The misfiring of a cylinder is usually quickly discovered but it is not usually an easy task to readily ascertain the cylinder which is misfiring.

The purpose of the present invention is primarily to designate the cylinder of an explosive engine which is misfiring and incidentally to make known when a cylinder fails to explode so that proper remedy may be quickly applied thereby overcoming the many objections incident to the misfiring of any one of the cylinders of a multiple cylinderinternal combustion engine.

In accordance with this invention, indicating means are provided and disposed to be at all times under observation of the driver, such indicating means being adapted to be actuated by the explosions in the sev-' eral cylinders and in the event of any one of the cylinders failing to explode the indicating element adapted to be actuated thereby failing to operate instantly gives warning of the fact as well as designating which one of the cylinders has failed to explode, thereby giving timely warning so that the proper remedy may be quickly applied.

The invention consists of a plurality of indicating elements, such as pointers or hands, one for each cylinder of the engine, and operating means adapted to be actuated by the expanding gases resulting from com-.

bustion in the several cylinders of the engine, each of the indicating elements having of the engine or with the connection between such cylinder and exhaust manifold, a valve disposed in. the chamber to be actuated by the expanding gas due to explosion and indicating means disposed to be under observation at all times and having connection with the said valve to be operated thereby when the valve is actuated.

With these and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation isnecessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited,

but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the invention as claimed may be resorted to when desired.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail view of a motor vehicle engine provided with indicating means enibodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of one of the chambers containing the member adapted to be actuated by means of the expanding gases;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the indicating elements and the casing therefor.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in thefollowing description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

. The numeral 1 designates a chamber which is adapted to be connected in anymanner with a cylinder of an internal combustion engine embodying a plurality of cylinders. The chamber 1 may be of any construction and is formed with an inlet 2 and an outlet 3. Within the chamber is a valve 4 disposed between the inlet 2 and the outlet 3 so as to be actuated by the expanding gas due to explosion of the mixture in the cylinder.

Should the cylinder fail to explode from any cause the valve 4 will not be actuated andv such failure of the gaseous mixture to explode is instantly made known by the indi cating means having connection with the valve t so as to be actuated thereby. While I the chamber 1 may be connected with a cylinderof the engine in any manner it has been found suflicient if the same be connected to the branch 5 forming connecting means between the cylinder and the manifold 6 into which the exhaust from the several cylinders discharges. A small proportion of the exhaust is deflected from the branch or connection 5 and passes into the chamber 1 through the inlet 2 and actuates the valve 4: and passes out through the escape 3. The valve 4 is disposed in the path of the exhaust through the chamber 1 and normally extends across the inlet 2 and is moved by the exhaust in its passage through the chamber 1 from the inlet 2 to the outlet 3. The indicating means may be cut ofi by means of a controlling valve 7 which is disposed in the length of the inlet 2, the latter consisting of a nipple or like part. A rod or shaft 8 extends through the chamber 1 and is journaled therein and has the valve 4: connected thereto. Movement of the valve 4 is imparted to the rod or shaft 8.

Upon the dash of the machine or otherwise conspicuously disposed are arranged a j plurality of indicating elements 9 which are shown as consisting of hands or pointers. One indicating element is provided for each cylinder of the engine and is connected with the valve 4; by suitable means, such as the rod or shaft 8. Obviously when the valve 4: moves the element or hand 9 correspondingly moves, thereby designating that the cylinder is working but should the cylin der misfire or fail to explode the fact is instantly made known by the failure of the hand of the indicating element 9 having connection therewith to operate. This not only designates the failure of the cylinder to explode but also indicates which cylinder is skipping or misfiring.

- The indicating elements 9 may be suit-- ably housed and, as shown, are located in a casing '10which has its front closed by means of glass or other transparent material. The disposition of the indicating means will obviously depend upon the application of the invention but it is to be understood that the same are located so as to be under observation at all times. Each indicating element may be connected in any known and the cylinder designate since each indicating element has connection with one of the cylinders and is marked to correspond with the cylinder so that failure of any. one of the hands or indicating elements 9 to move will give warning of the misfiring and designate which of the cylinders has failed to'explode.

The valves 4 and indicating elements 9 are held in normal position by means of springs 11 which are suitably disposed and connected to effect the desired result.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 2- -l. The combination with a multiple cylinder internal combustion engine and an exhaust manifold having branches communicating with the exhaust valve chambers of the cylinders, of a plurality of testing chambers each having communication with one branch of the manifold and each formed with an atmospheric vent, an indicating device cooperating with each testing chamber, and means operable by the passage of burnt gases through the testing chambers to their vents for actuating the indicating devices, said means being capable of controlling the indicating devices at a point remote from the testing chambers so that the engine may be tested from a distance or from an inspection of the testing chambers.

2. The combination with a multiple cylinthe testing chambers so that the engine may be tested from a distance or from an inspection of the testing chambers, and including rock shafts extending through the testing chambers, gate valves fixed to the rock shafts within the chambers and normally cutting off communication between the manifold and chambers, and operative connections between the rock shafts and the indicating means.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM EBERT. [n s.] 

